boyutpedia Page 155
Page 155
[Just kidding, the answer is actually quite simple—]
The ending note was drawn out lightly, yet carried an undeniable certainty:
"However, we're not going to tell you that."
The air suddenly tensed the moment the last note fell.
Bai E's figure flashed out like lightning, drawing Qin Chen from his waist with a backhand motion. The sharp sound of the blade cutting through the air was particularly jarring in the silence of the primordial vortex—he had instantly closed in on Lai Gu Shi's side.
Lai Gushi's pupils contracted sharply, a brief moment of alarm washing over him, but this body, bound by calculations, was ultimately a beat too slow.
The blade, trailing a faint, sparkling light, swept past, and after a chilling arc, his head was severed from his body, crashing heavily onto the spiritual waters at the heart of the primordial vortex.
The water splashed lightly, creating tiny ripples that reflected the faint light from the dome, yet only served to amplify the surrounding stillness.
Bai E sheathed his sword and stood still, while Xi Lian also lost her earlier playfulness. The two stared at the head floating on the water, their faces devoid of any ease at having severed the "mastermind," only shrouded in a heavy silence.
"Mirror Flow: Not bad."
"Yanqing: What a swift and clean sword strike."
March 7th: Is Rigol dead?
"Laikoshi: ......"
Danheng: Obviously not.
Star: Hahahaha.
"March 7th: What's so funny?"
"Blue Sparrow: That guy, could he have lost his guard?"
"Aglaia: @Legus, you see us as firewood, but have you ever thought that this flame will one day burn you up as well?"
"Lagushi: I don't think you guys are capable of doing that."
"Cerseis: Sigh~ The truth about Onpharos has been revealed, @Nakexia, how about I hand over the spark of reason to you now to liven things up?"
"That Xia: You can keep that useless thing yourself."
"We want to weave a long dream for 'Onfaros'."
After a long silence, Xi Lian spoke first, her voice as soft as mist falling on spiritual water.
["Let it believe that the experiment is not over yet, and everything is still continuing along the predetermined trajectory..."]
Bai E didn't reply, his gaze slowly shifting to the flickering flame of time, his tone tinged with uncertainty and contemplation:
"It's impossible to do this with the power of Oronis alone."
【"yes."】
Xi Lian nodded gently, her eyelids slightly lowered, her voice carrying a faint yet persistent hope.
"So, I can only pin my hopes on that childhood dream..."
"Place your hopes on the god who appeared in your dream, standing behind Euronis."
"Now I am certain: 'Time' is the page that the Star God recorded in Onphalus. If it disappears from the world, and everything it recorded is lost in the starry sky, that 'Star God' will surely turn his gaze here..."
When Xi Lian raised her eyes, the faint light of the cosmic vortex was reflected in them. Her tone was unwavering, and every word was spoken with absolute certainty.
"That will be a glimpse across time and space, allowing each of me from now on to become your power to reset the years—infusing my soul into this ritual sword, creating an endless journey of fire-chasing, an 'unfinished re-creation.'"
Bai E nodded slowly, his knuckles unconsciously tightening their grip on the hilt of his sword, his voice deep and resonant, as if immersed in spiritual water:
"I understand. Let me enter the cycle of reincarnation, continuing Onphalus's calculations to deceive the gods... to deceive this world."
He knew better than anyone that only in this way could he buy Onphalus some breathing room.
"Naka: So that's how it is. So you've been trying to avoid the inevitable end of destruction all along."
"Sunday: O Sun of Onphalus..."
"Sunday: The willpower is certainly commendable, but... how long can it last...?"
"Star: Why does it feel like there's a hidden meaning in what Lao Ri said?"
"Robin: Brother, I will always believe in those great people, including you."
"Wan Di: Not bad, Savior. Although I don't know how long you've lasted, I'm still willing to admit that you truly deserve the title of Savior."
"Bai'er: Thank you..."
Bai E: But wait... does this mean... Xi Lian...?
But then his tone shifted abruptly, his voice trailing off, and his Adam's apple bobbed loudly:
"But for 'time' to disappear from the world, it also means that you..."
The rest of the words stuck in his throat, and the air suddenly felt heavy and stifling.
【"......"】
"Okay, let's not make the atmosphere so heavy."
Xi Lian took half a step forward, her fingertips twitching slightly, a familiar smile spreading across her face as she tried to break the suffocating silence.
[Bai E cannot do it.]
He abruptly lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes concealing the surging moisture within them. A glint of tears welled up beneath his lashes, but he forcefully forced it back, his shoulders tensing.
"We are about to embark on a true heroic journey. So..."
Her voice softened further, like a breeze brushing past her ear.
"Smile, okay?"
Xi Lian's smile was as bright as ever, the tenderness in her eyes capable of rippling across the spiritual water. But Bai E couldn't smile.
He ultimately couldn't do it.
"Bai E: ......"
"The Fire-Stealing Traveler: ......"
"Bai'er: Lai Gushi! You deserve to die!!!"
"Xia Die: Your Excellency Bai E, please calm down..."
"Tibo: We can't... let Xiaoxilian's sacrifice go to waste."
Aglaia: I know, my teacher. We will both do our best.
"March 7th: She's clearly a girl just as cute as me..."
"Star: Tonic knife forehead drip Xi Lian mouth teeth."
"Aha: Waaaaa X﹏X Aha can't stand this, Aha is going to steal some good stuff from Fuli to nourish Xiaoxilian..."
"Star: Go, Aha."
Fireworks: I support the boss, hehe.
"Su Chang: Wait, is this going to mean Bai E will take action himself?"
"The Fire Thief: It's already... over..."
Bai E: I...it was me all along...it's always been me...
"Wan Di: HKS, I know you're unhappy, but that's no reason for you to punch me for no reason..."
"Wan Di: Sigh, never mind. Once I find that #&￥, I'll do my best to take it down for you."
"In that 'memory,' you will surely meet me again. The innocent little Xilian will lie on the soft hay, feeling the gentle breeze, dreaming of the world far away."
Her gaze drifted into the distance, as if piercing through layers of time, truly seeing the figure in her "memory"—a "past" belonging to the future, a self untouched by the storms of life, utterly carefree.
"Tell her about your journey to the fire, and then... let her become a romantic part of this story too."
"I believe that every woman in the future will make the same choice as me: to erase 'years' countless times, to reset time countless times—after all, they are all me, and their charm is that it remains constant."
She didn't stop, continuing her forward march as before, but suddenly turned around playfully, her gentle eyes fixed steadily on Bai E.
【“…”】
Bai E's Adam's apple bobbed violently, a lump forming in his throat, a dense, indescribable pain.
But he must do it.
"Then, I will drift into a sweet dream and disappear into some corner of the world..."
"Quietly, wait for the day the next page is turned."
Bai E suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with an unprecedented resolve, yet also with an unprecedented pain. He slowly nodded.
He must do it.
"And I will keep going. Even if the road ahead is dark, I will burn myself to light it up."
"Rather than let the flame become sustenance for the black tide, I will become its vessel, preventing the 'Rebirth' from arriving. Even if this body is consumed, it doesn't matter, as long as I remain, the pursuit of fire will not end..."
He gently placed his palm on his chest, and at the starting point of this cycle of reincarnation, he uttered his most steadfast vow, word by word.
He must do it.
"Until Onphalus, the true dawn will break."
"Bai'er: Every time...every single time it's me...?"
"Saifei: So, the Fire Thief doesn't show his true form... because he's been burned beyond recognition by countless embers?"
"Feng Jin: You've worked hard, Lord Bai E."
Tibo: Little Black must be in so much pain...
Silver Branch: His idea was indeed correct; beauty is everywhere.
"Silver Branch: And as His follower, I will defend this seed of beauty until the end of my life."
"That summer: 33550336, I think I've guessed what this number means."
"The Fire Thief: Eternal Cycle..."
"March 7th: Three... thirty million reincarnations? Are you kidding me?"
"Jing Yuan: So the fire that Bai E received is..."